About 4 in 10 of the nation's 1.9 million American Indians identified their tribe as either Cherokee (308,132), Navajo (219,198), Chippewa (103,826), or Sioux (103,255), according to figures released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. The 1990 census tabulations present population counts for 542 tribes for the United States, its regions, divisions, and states.

Rounding out the top 10 are Choctaw (82,299), Pueblo (52,939), Apache (50,051), Iroquois (49,038), Lumbee (48,444), and Creek (43,550). See Native American Population Table.

Two-thirds (366) of the tribes shown in the tabulations had populations of less than 1,000 persons. Examples of tribes by the fewest number of American Indians include Cayuse (126), Croatan (111), and Siuslaw (44).

"This is the first time that the Census Bureau has provided tribal population counts based on the 100-percent tabulations. In previous censuses, information on tribes was tabulated only from the census long-form (sample) questionnaires," said Edna Paisano, bureau analyst.

The ten largest tribes were located in a number of states. For example, at least 1,000 American Indians reported Cherokee in 35 states; Sioux in 15 states; Chippewa in 9 states; and Iroquois in 8 states. See Ten Largest American Indian Tribes for States with 1000 or more of the specified Tribe: 1990.

"Tribal data from the 1990 census may differ from other sources such as tribal governments and the Bureau of Indian Affairs," Paisano said. "One major reason for differences is that census data are based on self-identification; persons who identified themselves as American Indian on the questionnaire were asked to report their enrolled or principal tribe. Statistics from other sources, however, may be based on persons included on tribal rolls or persons with a certain proportion of Indian blood. Persons on tribal rolls could have reported a race other than American Indian in the census."

"Tribal data in the tabulations represent the American Indian Detailed Classification List which includes all tribes, bands, and clans and reflect the written tribal entries reported on the questionnaires. Some of the responses, such as Iroquois, Sioux, and Colorado River, represent confederacies, nations, or reservations."

Copies of the tabulations, American Indian Population by Tribe for the United States, Regions, Divisions, and States: 1990, CPH-L-99, are available for $25 each prepaid from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Information Staff, Washington, D.C. 20233 (301-763-5002)

*This information was obtained from the US Department of Commerce
Bureau of the Census

Native American Populations

Tribes with more than 1,000 members,listed by State